The Branches Paddles Our Ambassadors Love the Most
10-minute read
Our Bending Branches National ProStaff and Ambassador team members have put hundreds (some even thousands) of hours into their paddling niche, whether it’s canoeing or kayak fishing.
Each of them has their favorite paddle to use, even if they have a quiver full of them. We thought it’d be fun for you to know what their go-to paddles are for their discipline.
Maybe it’ll inspire you to consider moving up to a higher-end paddle yourself, hearing them talk about the benefits they love.
We’ve never heard anyone say they regret buying a better paddle! (We have heard people say they wish they had started with a good paddle right away, instead of going cheap first, then moving up later.)
We’ll divide this into two sections: canoeing and kayak fishing, our two major audiences.
Our Team Members’ Favorite Canoe Paddles
Our canoe ProStaffers often log hundreds of miles on one wilderness trip, so a high-quality paddle is non-negotiable. In addition, a couple of them are on the water daily because they work for (or own) a touring company and/or are certified instructors.
If you’re a canoeist, you’ll get some good ideas:
Olivia Bledsoe is part of an American all-women’s canoe team called The Hudson Bay Girls. They canoed from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay in the spring/summer of 2025, a total of about 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers). Olivia says, “My favorite paddle is the Bending Branches Beavertail. I love it because of the power I get from having a larger blade. This paddle does a good job balancing paddler fatigue with increased power. I get the benefits of moving more water, but don't feel too much water resistance. I've used this paddle for a 45-mile flat water day, and it performed excellently.”
Olivia Bledsoe with her Beavertail canoe paddle on the Hudson Bay trip
Joey Chapman is an adventure guide with a paddling company in his home country of Wales. He educates, guides and is heavily involved in the paddling community there. “Currently, I have a few Branches paddles I use personally,” he says, “coaching, guiding and running courses. These paddles really have taken some abuse from 100-mile canoe trips to paddling grade 3-4 rocky ditches in Wales. In my current fleet are the Explorer Plus, the Expedition Plus and the Beavertail.”
Will Copestake is also in northern Europe. He co-owns a paddling company in northern Scotland, where he loves canoeing and guiding in their many lochs. He says, “Currently I'm really enjoying the Expedition Plus for whitewater canoe, especially for the Scottish whitewater, which tends to give it as much time on rock as it does water. For flatwater, the Sunburst has been my go-to blade.”
Helena Karlstrom is another member of The Hudson Bay Girls, along with Olivia, whom you met above. “A paddle from Bending Branches is more than just a paddle,” she says. “My Expedition Plus paddle has carried me through a lifetime of water—over 1,500 miles—and still holds up. I definitely favor the T-grip because it gives me more control on whitewater sections, but it works as an all-around paddle that I use on long flat water stretches as well. I even used my Expedition Plus on a 17-hour paddling day, taking on a stretch of over 55 miles of paddling, and never got tired of it.”
Martin Trahan is a native of Quebec, Canada. Every couple of years, he takes a few months and embarks on a wilderness canoe expedition of several hundred miles. His paddle of choice is the Java ST. He says, “It’s light, I can rely on it and it looks good. I’ve never had shoulder issues while using my Java.”
Martin Trahan (left) with his Java and friend Antti, ready for their expedition (photo by Antti Vettenranta)
Our Team Members’ Favorite Kayak Fishing Paddles
Hands down, the pick for our National ProStaff and Regional Ambassador teams is our Angler Pro. Some prefer the carbon model for its sleek black appearance and extreme light weight. Others prefer the fiberglass model with its eye-popping color options and more affordable price tag.
There’s one other kayak fishing paddle that surfaces a couple of times on this list as well: the Angler Navigator. The Navigator also appears on the fav list for a few on our Regional Ambassador team.
Let’s get into it…
Why Is the Angler Pro So Popular?
The vast majority of our team members are kayak anglers. When we reached out to ask them to name their favorite paddle, most of those who responded put the Angler Pro at the top of their list.
Here’s what we found out from them:
Chris Arnold (Nova Scotia, Canada): “The Angler Pro Carbon is my favorite for its strength, durability, lightweight and aesthetics.”
Dean Bowling (Georgia, US): “It’s the light weight of the Angler Pro Carbon that I love, plus the beauty of the carbon fiber shining in the sun.”
Luis Delgado (Georgia, US): “My favorite is the Angler Pro, because you can feel it in every stroke. It helps me move down rapids so much better and is built tough.”
Eron Dodds (Ontario, Canada): “The Angler Carbon Pro is an amazing paddle. It increases my range and precision while reducing stress and fatigue.”
Chris Funk (Alabama, US): “The Angler Pro is my favorite by far. Zero flex, tougher than woodpecker lips, and has the power to move big loads in heavy current without asking nicely!”
Chris Funk with his Angler Pro in Bruiser
Christian Gervais (Quebec, Canada): “Based on quality, design and price, I believe the Angler Pro Versa-Lok is one, if not the best, paddle on the market. The paddle is so light that I know if I need to use my paddle all day (which actually happened during a windy and rainy tournament when my steering system broke), having a quality lightweight paddle didn’t tire me at the end of the day, and we still ended up finishing third. Had I not had a quality paddle, it would have made my day exhausting, as I fish in a very big tournament-loaded kayak.”
Juan Gomez (Minnesota, US): “The Angler Pro is my favorite because it's light and built tough. I don't get exhausted paddling with a too-heavy paddle.”
Drew Gregory (Ohio, US): “I've always loved the flagship Angler Pro and especially now that it comes with the new Lam-Lok technology to protect the edges.”
Gene Jensen (Georgia, US): “My favorite paddle is the Angler Pro. I use the bright colors for safety and it's light enough to paddle for miles without feeling heavy.”
Marty Hughes (Nebraska, US): “The Angler Pro is my choice. It’s perfect for paddling a fishing kayak.”
Dennis Kieselhorst (Bremen, Germany): “The Angler Pro Carbon. Sexy and lightweight.”
Jason Kincy (Arkansas, US): “I’m absolutely an Angler Pro fan. The strength, weight and toughness are awesome. And I love the paddle patterns as well. I appreciate the aesthetics of a great design.”
Angler Pro in Copperhead
Dustin Nichols (Texas, US): “My favorite paddle is the Angler Pro Versa-Lok. It’s lightweight and durable, and it handles the abuse I dish out. It definitely aids in reducing fatigue from long trips.”
JR Rowlands (Washington, US): “I love the Angler Pro! Ever since we came up with the Glowtek years ago, it has stuck with me. Being lightweight and versatile makes it an amazing tool when paddling a Titan or XTR.”
Jameson Redding (North Carolina, US): “My favorite is the Angler Pro in Copperhead. Love this paddle.”
Casey Ryan (Ontario, Canada): “The Angler Pro in Radiant is my choice. It wasn’t my first Branches paddle, but it holds a special spot as I won this paddle, placing second in our local tournament series for Angler of the Year.”
Jason Schall (South Carolina, US): “It's a tough call because I really like the light weight of the Angler Pro Carbon paddle due to the long distances I often paddle, and the long days I will put in on the water. However, the unique and fun look of some of the Angler Pro (fiberglass) paddles always stands out in photos and they are a great conversation starter during events we do.”
Jennifer Schall (South Carolina, US): “The Angler Carbon Pro Versa-Lok is my favorite and go-to paddle when I know I will be on the water all day long, since it’s lightweight. I can paddle all day, and I never really feel it in my arms or shoulders because the paddle is so lightweight and easy to handle.”
Bill Schultz (Wisconsin, US): “Easy: the Angler Pro Carbon! It’s light even with the Versa-Lok ferrule and oversized blades. I LOVE the new checkerboard look with the Lam-Lok!”
Cameron Smith (Texas, US): “My favorite paddle is the Angler Pro Carbon Posi-Lok. It’s lightweight, responsive and efficient, which makes a huge difference on long days or when I’m covering a lot of water.”
Angler Pro Carbon (photo courtesy of Cameron Smith)
Peter Yeung (Ontario, Canada): “The Angler Pro is the only one I have and I love it. I fish from a fishing kayak, so it isn't easy to paddle in general but my Branches paddle is strong and stiff enough for me to paddle without wasting my energy.”
What do Anglers Love about the Navigator?
A few of our team members love the Angler Navigator, either as their favorite or a close runner-up to one of the Angler Pro models.
Matt Charette (Georgia, US): “My favorite is the Angler Navigator. As a paddling guide and product guy in the kayak space, Branches has always been the one company that I would rely on for paddles. Whether it’s for durability or lightweight functionality, there is something in the lineup for everyone.”
Eron Dodds (Ontario, Canada): “The Navigator is such a beautiful mix of paddling technology and carbon with a nostalgic wood finish.”
Terrell Hester (Texas, US): “My favorite is the Navigator. It’s a real head turner and is extremely lightweight. And it looks great on display in the garage when not in use!”
Jason Kincy (Arkansas, US): “The Navigator isn't as lightweight (as the Angler Pro) but is just a sweet-looking paddle.”
MooMoo Lee (California, US): “My all-time favorite paddle is the Navigator. I love the buoyancy of the blades and how smooth every stroke is. The low angle puts the least strain on my shoulders, and I can last 8-plus hours of paddling.”
Moo (MooMoo) Lee uses his Navigator on the ocean
Jason Schall (South Carolina, US): “The Angler Navigator is a great paddle and reminds me of the old canoe paddles I used to use as a child on the river that ran through my backyard. I like the nostalgic, natural and sentimental look of them.”
Other Favorites Our Team Members Mentioned
A couple of our Regional Ambassadors mentioned other paddles. If your budget prevents you from looking at the Angler Pros or Angler Navigator, one of these may suit you best:
Colton Hutchison (Pennsylvania, US): “My Angler Classic has been on half a dozen different kayaks, and every single time I use it, I don’t have a single complaint. It’s as comfortable as a kayak paddle can be, and light enough to paddle for miles and miles.”
Bill Sikora (Florida, US): “Right now, I am using the Angler Ace Versa-Lok, and I love it. It combines the strength of fiberglass-nylon-enforced blades with the weight of a carbon fiber shaft, making it the perfect paddle for longer trips and sturdier paddle strokes.”
(Photo: Alex Heaslip)
What about you? Which paddle will you try (or try next!)?
How can our friendly Customer Service team help you pick out your next paddle? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or bbinfo@bendingbranches.com, or choose our online chat option.
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